Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Freehold has been offering acting classes in Seattle since
the summer of 1991. We offer introductory courses for the absolute beginner as
well as master classes for working professionals. All Freehold faculty are
working professional actors, playwrights and directors whose credentials
include recognized work on and off Broadway, in major motion pictures, on
television, and in regional and international theatre venues.

Step I: Intro to Acting with Christine Marie Brown

At Freehold, we believe that acting is a process that can be
learned and practiced by anyone at any age. In the Intro class, you develop
fundamental acting tools: playing an action, living truthfully in imaginary
circumstances, and working with a partner. No matter your experience, you learn
acting in an exciting and safe environment. This is the first class in our
three-step acting progression, introducing you to a vocabulary and approach
that will be the basis of Step
II: Acting with Text and Step
III: Basic Scene Study.

November 3 – December 15
Sundays, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

$390 Discounted
$470 Full Price
Tuition is based on household income
Note: An additional class is added on Thursday, December 5, 6:00 - 10:00 pm

Christine Marie Brown made her Broadway debut in the
Tony-award winning production of both parts of William Shakespeare's Henry IV.
She has also appeared Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons and in an
awardwinning NYC Fringe Festival production of Harold Pinter’s Ashes to Ashes.
Nationally, Christine's theatre work includes leading roles at The Guthrie, The
Old Globe, South Coast Rep, Baltimore Centerstage, Shakespeare & Company,
Buffalo Studio Arena, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, American Shakespeare
Center, Kansas City Rep and TUTA (Chicago). Locally, her work has been seen at
Seattle Rep, ACT, Seattle Shakespeare Company.

Monday, October 7, 2013

A great headshot is not just a pretty picture—it
communicates a side of who you truly are. It’s an incredibly important
marketing tool for any actor. While everyone knows you need a great headshot,
not everyone knows how to get one.

As a veteran headshot photographer, here are my top ten tips
to get a great shot:

1.Know When to
Update Your Headshots

Most headshots will last you 12-24 months—if it’s been more
than 2 years since your last headshot session, it really is time for a new one.

You should also update your headshot any time you lose or
gain a fair amount of weight or change your hairstyle or color.You want to look like your headshot when you
walk into the audition.The best
compliment I get relayed back to me from a client is when a casting director
tells them “this is a great shot, it looks just like you.”

2. Find the Right Photographer For You

To reveal a genuine side of yourself to the camera, you’ve
got to be comfortable with your photographer. When you’re choosing a
photographer, don’t just focus on their portfolio—be sure to contact them to
get a feel for their vibe and information about their process. This extra step
can ensure a good experience and productive session.

3. Set Yourself Up for Success

Give yourself plenty of time to get to the session, have the
session, and get to your next appointment. You don’t want to worry about
rushing in or out. If your head is full of stressful thoughts, you will get
physically tense and the camera will capture all of that.

In addition to giving yourself plenty of time for the
session, get rest the night before, stay hydrated, pack a snack in case your
blood sugar dips, bring your favorite music to help set the right mood, and
bring whatever wardrobe, makeup, and hair products you need.It’s just like preparing for a
performance—you want to be relaxed, focused, and open, with “energy all the way
to the finger tips.”

4. Come In With Ideas for What Shots You Need

I get the most requests for these four looks:

1.Commercial
(bright, casual, smiling, "I can sell toothpaste")

2.Theatre/Film
(slightly dressier, non-smiling "I'm comfortable in my own skin and I'm
going to let you look at my face")

Before you walk into your session, know how you want to
market yourself.Think about the roles
you typically get cast in—talk to your agent, colleagues, directors, and
teachers to figure out your Type.

5. Bring the Right Wardrobe

Here are some general guidelines for wardrobe success:

OPTIONS: Bringing bad clothing options is the #1 preparation
problem I encounter with clients. If you are going for a corporate look, bring
appropriate clothing, like a button-up shirt and blazer. There is no way to
capture that corporate feel if you’re wearing a tank top.If you don’t own the right clothes, buy them
or borrow them. It really does make a world of difference. Also, bring a few
options for each look you want to capture. Some things look great in-person,
but don't photograph well and vice versa.

STYLE: Boat-neck and scoopy collars tend to look weird in
headshots. Button-up shirts, v-necks, and tank tops are all good choices.
Bottom line: whatever you wear should fit well and not distract from your
face.

COLOR: Solid colors work best. Textures and bright colors
are fine, just avoid busy prints, patterns, and logos.The color should not match your skin
tone—otherwise, you and the shirt will blend together in the shot.Contrast between your clothes and your skin
makes your face and eyes pop.

6. Women: Get Your Hair and Makeup Done Professionally

Professional Makeup Artists have the tools and the skills to
apply makeup that reads perfectly on camera.Hiring a professional MUA will ensure your hair and makeup look good, so
you can focus on the shoot.It’s worth
the investment.

However, it’s usually better for men not to wear makeup—you
run the risk of looking “too Model-y.” If you have an issue like blotchy skin
and would feel more confident with makeup, hire a professional who is good at
male natural looks for HD cameras.

7.Act for the
Camera, Don’t Pose for It

The camera basically captures your thoughts. If you’re
thinking, “Ugh, I hate this… I’m not a model I’m an actor… I hate the way my
nose looks in every photo I’ve ever taken… I don’t know what to do with my
hands…” it will read in the shot.Figure
out what kind of shot you’re going for, set up the internal monologue of that
“character,” and give it to the camera.If you’re going for happy commercial shot, think of things that genuinely
make you happy so the smile is honest and not just saying “cheese”for the camera with dead eyes.

8. Show Your Teeth in Commercial Shots

While it’s not necessary for film and theater shots, showing
your teeth in a genuine smile is great for commercial headshots. Casting
directors will see a friendly person who looks fun to work with and can sell
toothpaste. Even if your teeth aren’t perfect or brilliantly white, commercial
casting directors will want to see them in the shot.

For theater and film headshots, it’s still a good idea to
cover your bases with both non-smiling and smiling shots. If you only print
one, choose the image that represents your personality most accurately.

9. Know That You Are Enough

In a headshot session, your main job is to show the camera
who you are in that exact moment.You’re
not trying to be everything at once or like any other actor or some unrealistic
vision of perfection from a magazine ad. Realize that you are enough. Everything
you may see in yourself as a “flaw” is actually a unique quality that you have
to sell.Own those “flaws.” Embrace
them. Celebrate them. They are what make you YOU and may very well get you a
job.

10.Breathe and Have
Fun

There can be a lot of pressure going into a headshot session—“wow,
this is a huge investment for a broke actor like me… my last headshot
experience was a disaster… how do I show everything I can do in one
shot….”—breathe through those pressures. Remember, the headshot session is your
time.You paid for it, so own it.You’ve done the prep, you’ve set yourself up
for success, now is your chance to act for the camera in a role you were
literally born to play. Have fun with it.

John Ulman is a Seattle-based headshot photographer. Contact
him at john@johnulmanphoto.com or check out his work at www.johnulmanphoto.com.